Value added & add on courses
Value added courses
Sri Muthukumaran Medical College Hospital and Research Institute (SMMCHRI), Chennai, offers a wide range of Value Added Courses (VACs) aimed at enriching the academic experience of medical students and equipping them with essential clinical and professional skills.
Overview
SMMCHRI’s Value Added Courses are designed to supplement the MBBS and postgraduate curriculum without burdening students or disrupting their main coursework. Conducted throughout the academic year, these courses enhance personal, academic, and clinical competence by integrating applied learning and soft skill development.
Objectives
The primary goals of these programs are to:
- Foster holistic development and leadership qualities among medical students.
- Equip learners with essential life-saving skills, ethical awareness, and professional responsibility.
- Strengthen understanding of research methodology, patient communication, and medical safety practices.
Major Value Added Courses Offered
Notable Value Added Courses at SMMCHRI include:
| Course Title | Focus Area | Duration / Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Life Skills and Personality Development | Emotional intelligence, stress management, teamwork | Short-module workshop |
| Basic Life Support (BLS) and Emergency Skills | CPR, first aid, emergency response | Practical training |
| Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety | Adverse drug reaction monitoring, rational drug use | Hands-on + lectures |
| Research Methodology & Biostatistics | Study design, data analysis, scientific writing | Seminar & practice sessions |
| Role of Mind Mapping in Medical Learning | Cognitive tools for conceptual retention and critical thinking | 1-day course |
| Hospital Information System & Data Handling | Digital record management, EMR systems | Certificate course |
| NABH and Patient Safety | Healthcare accreditation and safety protocols | Workshop |
| Fire and Safety in Hospital Settings | Risk management, onsite emergency handling | 30-hour module |
Implementation and Supervision
The Medical Education Unit (MEU) of SMMCHRI oversees the planning, execution, and evaluation of all Value Added Courses, ensuring alignment with National Medical Commission (NMC) standards for competency-based training. The programs are periodically updated during College Council meetings to address contemporary medical and ethical issues.
Academic Integration
- These courses carry non-credit certification but contribute to the internal assessment portfolio.
- Training sessions are embedded within the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) framework.
- VAC participation is mandatory for professional year completion and curriculum enhancement.
- Overall, SMMCHRI’s Value Added Courses foster an integrated learning experience that blends technical proficiency with ethical, communicative, and research-oriented growth— preparing students for diverse medical and academic challenges.
2024 - 2025
- Sedentary lifestyle – its physiological implications
- Pain and palliative care
- Community pharmacology – recent update
- Incorporation of social media in medical education – best practices
- Skills needed for transforming into Indian medical graduate
- Role of physiotherapy in Orthopaedics
- Certificate course in Data analysis using SPSS
- Application of EBP of radiology
- Coping up with stress as a medical student
2023 - 2024
- Course on fundamentals and principles of medical genetics
- Building healthier population through data
- Course on environmental protection and sustainable living
- Nutraceuticals and human health – emerging trends
- Yoga for body and mind
- Course on road safety, traffic rules and regulations
- Medical negligence – current practices and future perspectives
- Beyond the basics – a course on advanced phlebotomy techniques
- Lifestyle diseases
2022 - 2023
- Introduction to One Health- A Transdisciplinary Approach
- Palliative care Workshop
- Building Rapport and Trust in Clinical Practice
- Role of Molecular Docking in Discovery of New Drugs
- Social Etiquette for Medical Graduates
- Health and Nutrition for Medical Graduates
- Crowdsourcing and Collaborative Learning through Social Media
- Qualitative Research in Healthcare- An Overview
2021 - 2022
- Analytical Approach for Clinical Skill Development
- Role of Mind Mapping for Effective Learning in Medical Education
- Workshop on NABH
- Course on Hospital Information System
- Certificate Course in Fire and Safety
- How to handle the Stress in Medical Practice
- Methods for Conducting Qualitative Research
2020 - 2021
- Computer Skills and its Application in Healthcare
- Best Practices for incorporating Social Media into Medical Education
- Certificate Course on Laboratory Information System
- Skilla aiding in the Transformation to an Indian Medical Graduate
- Introduction to Informatics in Medical Education
2019 - 2020
- Need for Pharmacovigilance in Healthcare
- Quality Practice in Basic Biomedical Research
- Certified Course on Basic Life Support
- Lifeskill course for Medical Graduates
- Workshop on Epi-info Software
2018 - 2019
- Evidence Based Medicine - An Overview
- Conventional Radiotherapy and it's Interpretation
- An Approach to Good Laboratory Practices
- Crucial Role of Physiotherapy in Orthopaedics
- Biostatistics in Medical Research
Add on courses
SMMCHRI’s Add-on Courses provide specialized training in key healthcare areas. These include Blood Banking, Infection Control, Patient Safety, ECG interpretation, and Transplantation Immunology, offering practical, hands-on expertise. AOCs enable students to gain in-depth knowledge of specific clinical and procedural aspects, enhancing their competence in real-world medical practice. Scheduled alongside regular programs, these courses ensure students develop the professional skills and practical understanding required for modern healthcare environments, fostering excellence in patient care.
- Blood Banking
- Biomedical Waste Management
- Infection control program
- Patient safety
- ECG for Medical graduates
- Nosocomial infection
- Transplantation immunology
- Evidence based medicine